More than 900 people in South Yorkshire saved by organ donors

George Torr, Local Democracy Reporter

The number of people living in South Yorkshire currently known to be alive thanks to organ transplants has reached 945.

The number of people living in South Yorkshire currently known to be alive thanks to organ transplants has reached 945.

There are now 415,082 people on the NHS Organ Donor Register in South Yorkshire, compared to 331,246 five years ago - a 25 per cent rise.

In the same time frame, this includes 170,968 people on the NHS Organ Donor Register in Sheffield, compared to 140,96 and 77,532 people in Rotherham, up from 61,093 in 2012.

Over 88,800 people Doncaster are on the list compared to 69,392 five years ago and 75,168 people in Barnsley are signed up compared to 57,765 in 2012.

Last year 84 people in South Yorkshire had transplants, compared to 64 five years ago.

NHS Blood and Transplant said more people are alive thanks to transplants because of 'improving survival rates' and a 'increased public commitment' to donation.

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “More people than ever in South Yorkshire are committing to organ donation and that is saving more lives than ever. It’s amazing to picture all the people now alive today thanks to organ donation and think of all the families and children who have grown up thanks to donors.

“We’re seeing more and more people committing to donation and the good results of our close work with hospitals. Our specialist nurses in organ donation are now almost always involved in discussions with families over organ donation.

“However there is still a long way to go. Around three people still die a day in need of a transplant. Every one of those people who died could be a mother or a father, a daughter or a son, who might be alive today."

NHS bosses said there is still a shortage of organ donors and three people die a day in need of a transplant.

Around 6,400 people currently waiting for a transplant with a chronic shortage of people to registering from black and Asian backgrounds.